Pants for Improved Body Shape

ABSTRACT

Through the use of pocket bags that span from the outer seams of certain pants garments to the components of the fastening system that are capable of reversible engagement, an improved silhouette, can be created for a wearer of the garment. Elastic panels that also span from the outer seams to the fastening systems may be included in order to improve further the look that is created.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of clothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people do not like their silhouettes when wearing clothing that they are considering purchasing or that they already own. They often try on pants and wish that their stomachs were flatter, and/or their torsos did not bulge as much as they did.

One option for creating a body shape that one wants is to increase exercise. Another option is to diet. Unfortunately, very few people find these options satisfactory. Moreover, as a person ages, the ability to obtain and to retain one's desired body shape becomes more difficult, even when adhering to a strict regiment of exercise or dieting.

Another option is to wear clothing that helps to create the silhouette that one desires. For example, many women are familiar with the use of girdles and control top pantyhose, each of which is marketed as being able to help to create the appearance that a woman wants. Unfortunately, many women find these garments to be uncomfortable and not fully successful for their intended purposes.

Because of the limits of known technologies and methodologies, there remains an unmet need for clothing garments that will satisfactorily assist a wearer in creating his or her desired silhouette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an article of clothing for providing a wearer with an improved silhouette.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides an article of clothing comprising: (a) a right leg section, wherein the right leg section comprises a right outer seam; (b) a left leg section, wherein the left leg section comprises a left outer seam; (c) a waistband; (d) a fastening system, wherein the fastening system is capable of reversibly associating a front upper end of the right leg section with a front upper end of the left leg section, and a first fastening element of the fastening system is located on the front upper end of the right leg section and a second fastening element of the fastening system is located on the front upper end of the left leg section; (e) a first pocket bag, wherein the first pocket bag spans from the right outer seam to the first fastening element and is attached to the waistband; and (f) a second pocket bag, wherein the second pocket bag spans from the left outer seam to the second fastening element and is attached to the waistband.

According to a second embodiment, the present invention is directed to an article of clothing comprising: (a) a right leg section, wherein the right leg section comprises a right outer seam; (b) a left leg section, wherein the left leg section comprises a left outer seam; (c) a waistband; (d) a fastening system, wherein the fastening system comprises at least one button and at least one hole for receiving said at least one button and is capable of reversibly associating a front upper end of the right leg section with a front upper end of the left leg section, and either said at least one button or said at least one hole is located on the front upper end of the right leg section and either said at least one button or said at least one hole is located on the front upper end of the left leg section, wherein if said at least one button is located on the front upper end of the left leg section, then said at least one hole is located on the front upper end of the right leg section and if said at least one hole is located on the front upper end of the left leg section then said at least one button is located on the front upper end of the right leg section; (e) a first pocket bag, wherein the first pocket bag is affixed along at least a portion of a right side of the first pocket bag to the right outer seam, along at least a portion of a left side of the first pocket bag to the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the first pocket bag to the waistband; (f) a second pocket bag, wherein the second pocket bag is affixed along at least a portion of a left side of the second pocket bag to the left outer seam, along at least a portion of a right side of the second pocket bag to the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the second pocket bag to the waistband; (g) a first elastic panel, wherein the first elastic panel is affixed along at least a portion of a right side of the first elastic panel to the right outer seam, along at least a portion of a left side of first elastic panel to the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the first elastic panel to the waistband; (h) a second elastic panel, wherein the second elastic panel is affixed along at least a portion of a left side of the second elastic panel to the left outer seam, along at least a portion of a right side of the second elastic panel to the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the second elastic panel to the waistband; (i) an elastic yoke; and (j) reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said second elastic panel.

According to a third embodiment, the present invention provides an article of clothing comprising: (a) a right leg section, wherein the right leg section comprises a right outer seam; (b) a left leg section, wherein the left leg section comprises a left outer seam; (c) a waistband; (d) a fastening system, wherein the fastening system comprises a zipper system comprised of a first row of teeth and a second row of teeth and is capable of reversibly associating a front upper end of the right leg section with a front upper end of the left leg section, and the first row of teeth is located on the front upper end of the right leg section and the second row of teeth is located on the front upper end of the left leg section; (e) a first pocket bag, wherein the first pocket bag is affixed along at least a portion of a right side of the first pocket bag to the right outer seam, along at least a portion of a left side of first pocket bag to the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the first pocket bag to the waistband; (f) a second pocket bag, wherein the second pocket bag is affixed along at least a portion of a left side of the second pocket bag to the left outer seam, along at least a portion of a right side of second pocket bag to the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the second pocket bag to the waistband; (g) a first elastic panel, wherein the first elastic panel is affixed along at least a portion of a right side of the first elastic panel to the right outer seam, along at least a portion of a left side of first elastic panel to the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the first elastic panel to the waistband; (h) a second elastic panel, wherein the second elastic panel is affixed along at least a portion of a left side of the second elastic panel to the left outer seam, along at least a portion of a right side of the second elastic panel to the fastening system and along at least a portion of a top side of the second elastic panel to the waistband; (i) an elastic yoke; and (j) reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said second elastic panel.

Through the various embodiments of the present invention, one may easily and efficiently design and wear articles of clothing that impart the desired silhouette to a wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is representation of a person wearing a prior art pair of pants.

FIG. 2 is a representation of person wearing a pair of pants according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a representation of a view of an elastic panel that is located on the inside of a front left leg section of a pair of pants according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a representation of a view of an elastic panel that is located on the inside of a front right leg section of a pair of pants according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a representation of the configuration of a yoke in a pair pants according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless otherwise specified, any of the features of the various embodiments described herein can be used in conjunction with features described in connection with any other embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, features described in connection with the various or specific embodiments are not to be construed as not suitable in connection with other embodiments disclosed herein unless such exclusivity is explicitly stated or implicit from the context.

Definitions

Unless otherwise specified or apparent from context, the terms and phrases described below have the following specified meanings.

The term “elastic” means any type of material that may be stretched in at least one dimension to a size at least 5% larger than its starting state and as high as 30% larger by the imposition of a mechanical force and that will have a recovery that enables it to return to its original size or to substantially its original size (i.e., to between about 100% and about 105% or between about 100% and about 103% of the original size) if the mechanical force is removed. Examples of elastic materials include but are not limited to mesh materials, and as persons of ordinary skill know it may, for example, be formed by weaving together flexible materials such as flexible yarns. One non-limiting example of the fabric content of the mesh is between about 70% and about 80% nylon, e.g., 78% nylon and between about 20% and about 30% spandex, e.g., about 22% spandex. In other embodiments, stretch denim, which is comprised of denim and lycra may be used. The aforementioned exemplary materials may be used to form the pocket bags and/or elastic panels.

The phrase “fastening system” refers to a system for causing two or more pieces of clothing material to reversibly retain an association with each other. By way of non-limiting examples, unless otherwise specified, a fastening system may be a zipper system, one or more buttons and holes for receiving the buttons, a hook and loop system (e.g., VELCRO®), one or more snaps and units on which to be snapped, one or more hooks and hook receiving elements (also referred to as eye(s)) and combinations thereof. In a pair of pants, common fastening systems are the button fly and the zipper in combination with a button and hole that reversibly attaches the ends of a waistband. These systems allow for the upper part of the front of the right pants leg section to retain association with the upper part of the front of the left pants leg section and to be easily disassociated by a wearer of the garment. Each of the upper part of the front of the right leg section and the upper part of the front of the left leg section contains a fastening element such that a first fastening element is located on the front upper part of the right leg section and the second fastening element is located on the front upper part of the left pant leg section. As used herein, the fastening system also includes any material that permits, enhances or allows the fastening elements to remain associated with the garment even when not fastened, e.g., there may be cloth attached to the zipper and to the pants panel. The fastening system may also be extended to reversibly associate ends of the waistband.

The terms “reversible” and “reversibly” mean that an action can be done and undone multiple times on a garment and that the garment is designed to have these actions done and undone multiple times. For example, the area of a pair of pants that is colloquially referred to as the “fly” may if the appropriate hardware is present, be zipped and unzipped; buttoned and unbuttoned, snapped and unsnapped; and hooked or unhooked. Thus, the areas that contain these elements may be reversibly associated with each other. Reversible association may be contrasted with irreversible association, which may be accomplished through for example, stitching seams together.

The term “side” may be used to include a face or surface area of a piece of cloth. The term may also be used to refer to an edge. Because pieces of cloth are three dimensional but generally flat, two of the sides typically have significant surface area, while the other sides have very little surface area and thus these other sides may be referred to interchangeably as either edges or sides.

Preferred Embodiments

According to a first embodiment, the present invention provides an article of clothing such as a pair of pants. The pants may be shorts, long pants or pants of any intermediate length. Further, it is understood that the size of a pair of pants that is appropriate for a wearer is dependent on the size of the individual and the present invention is understood not to be limited to any particular garment of clothing or pair of pants of any particular size. Common materials used to form pants and that may be used in connection with the present invention include but are not limited to cotton, wool, denim, polyester, leather and combinations thereof.

The article of clothing will preferably contain a right leg section and a left leg section. As persons of ordinary skill are aware, to make a pair of pants one may begin with four panels: a front right panel, a front left panel, a rear right panel and a rear left panel. The front right panel and the rear right panel may be affixed to each other through e.g., stitching, at what may be referred to as a right outer seam, and also may be affixed to each other through a right inner seam to form the right leg section. The inner seam, however, is typically shorter than the outer seam and typically extends from the bottom of the pants to what would correspond to the pelvic area of a wearer of the pants, where the two inner seams (left and right) meet.

Similarly, the front left panel and the rear left panel may be affixed to each other through e.g., stitching at what may be referred to as a left outer seam. Also as with the right side, the front and rear left panels may be affixed to each other through a left inner seam, and typically as with the right side, the left inner seam is shorter than the left outer seam and typically extends from the bottom of the pants to what would correspond to the pelvic area of a wearer of the pants. The front and rear left panels may together form the left leg section. The stitching of the inner and outer seams may extend all of the way to the bottom of the pants, or for aesthetic, functional or other reasons one or both inner and/or outer of them may end shortly before the bottom. Additionally, in some embodiments, the left outer seam is the same length as the right outer seam, and the left inner seam is the same length as the right inner seam.

Additionally, although in some embodiments, the outer seam is formed by a single line of stitching from the waistband to the bottom of the pants, in some embodiments, there can be two or three or more parallel or substantially parallel rows of stitching that join the rear and front right panels or the rear and front left panels. Regardless of whether there is one row or more than one row of stitching, for convenience and unless otherwise specified the plurality of rows may collectively be referred to as the seam.

In the pelvic area, the rear right panel may be affixed to the rear left panel from the location of the top of the inner seam of each panel to the top of the rear panels. The upper ends of the front right panel and the front left panel may be associated with each other through a reversible fastening system such as a button and hole system, a zipper system, a latch and hook system, a snap system, a hook and eye system or a combination of any of those systems. It should be noted that in some embodiments, although the left front panel and the right front panel are associated with each other through a reversible fastening system at their upper ends, a portion of these two panels (typically the lower 2 cm to 8 cm or lower 4 cm to 6 cm) may also be sewn together and thus irreversibly associated with each other through, for example, one or more rows of stitching.

A first fastening element of the fastening system may be located on the front upper end of the right leg section and a second fastening element of the fastening system may be located on the front upper end of the left leg section.

The garment may also have a waistband. The waistband may be an additional piece or pieces of material that are affixed to the four aforementioned panels. It may have a reversible fastening system that is a continuation of the fastening system that reversibly associates the two front panels or it may contain a different system. For example if the front panels are associated by zipper elements, the two ends of the waistband may be reversibly associated with each other through a button and hole system or snap system or hook and eye system.

The waistband used in some embodiments is about 1 cm to 5 cm or 2 cm to 4 cm high and as long as the combined top edges of the four panels of the pants. Some waistbands will contain loops through which a belt may be thread. In some embodiments, the waistband may contain an adjustable waist mechanism that is at least substantially hidden from view. In some embodiments, the adjustable waist mechanism is accessible from the outside of the garment, while in other embodiments it is accessible from the inside of the garment.

In one embodiment the adjustable waist mechanism comprises a right waist sizing mechanism and a left waist sizing mechanism. Each of these sizing mechanisms may for example comprise an elastic strip, a plurality of button receiving holes and a first button that may be reversibly associated with the right waist sizing mechanism's plurality of button receiving holes and a second button that may be reversibly associated with the left waist sizing mechanism's plurality of button receiving holes. This mechanism thus enables the user to adjust the waistband of the garment.

The garment also comprises a first pocket bag and a second pocket bag. These pocket bags are located on the right and left front sides of the garment respectively. In some embodiments, they may be constructed to serve two purposes. First, they may permit a wearer of the pants to easily store and to retrieve items. Thus, they each have an accessible cavity. Second, they may facilitate imposing a force on the wearer that pushes in the wearer's stomach and/or lower pelvic region.

In some embodiments, each pocket bag is formed from an elastic material that has the capacity to stretch to a size of at least 5% greater than its resting state in at least one dimension. In some embodiments, each pocket bag can stretch to a size of at least 10% greater than its resting state in at least one dimension. In some embodiments, each pocket bag can stretch to a size of at least 20% greater than its resting state in at least one dimension. In some embodiments, each pocket bag can stretch from about 5% to about 30% along the portion of the bag that spans from the respective outer seam to the fastening system. In some embodiments, each pocket bag may stretch from about 10% to about 25% along the dimension that spans along the portion of the bag that spans from the respective outer seam to the fastening system. In some embodiments each pocket bag may stretch from about 15% to about 20% along the dimension that spans from the respective outer seam to the fastening system. This dimension may also be referred to as the width of the pocket bag.

The cavity of a pocket bag may, for example, be formed from the association of two pieces of material, e.g., cotton; denim; a combination of cotton and nylon; a combination of cotton and polyester; a combination of cotton, nylon and polyester; polyester; nylon; a combination of polyester and nylon; spandex; spandex and nylon. In some embodiments, both pieces of material comprise an elastic material or one piece of material in each pocket bag comprises and elastic material, e.g., the piece of material closer to the body of the wearer of the pants. Additionally, in some embodiments the composition of these materials is uniform and consists only of one or more of the aforementioned materials or combinations of materials.

The two pieces of material may be the same or different shapes, and regular or irregular shapes. They are sewn or otherwise associated with each other to form a pocket bag that has an opening that is large enough for a human hand to be inserted at least part way and to insert and/or to remove items such as a wallet, change, keys, a cellular telephone and/or a personal digital assistant.

In some embodiments, one of the two pieces of material is larger than the other piece of material. In some of these embodiments, the larger piece of material may be referred to as the rear piece of the pocket bag (i.e., closer to the body of the wearer) and the smaller piece of material may be referred to as the front piece of material of the pocket bag (i.e., distal to the body of the wearer). The two pieces may be aligned and associated with each other through, for example, stitching that forms a pocket that is enclosed except for at the area where the opening to the pocket through which the wearer of the garment gains access. This may also be the area where the pieces of material do not overlap because of their size differences.

When the two pieces are of different sizes, the area of the rear piece that is larger than the front piece, or a portion of this area, may ultimately be visible when someone other than the wearer of the pants looks at them while in use. Accordingly, it may be advantageous for this area to have an aesthetically desirable appearance. For example, it may be desirable to have at least that portion of the rear piece or more than that portion of the rear piece be dyed a certain color, have a certain pattern and/or made of a different material, e.g., denim, when the rest of the pocket is not denim. In other embodiments a large portion or all of the rear material is aesthetically pleasing. As persons of ordinary skill in the art are aware, one solution to creating an aesthetically pleasing area, is rather than to dye or create a pattern in the pocket bag itself, to add a pocket facing, which can be sewn or otherwise affixed to the pocket bag.

In some embodiments each pocket bag is made from two pieces of material of unequal sizes and only one of the pieces (or portions of only one of the pieces) spans from the outer seam to the fastening system.

The opening to the cavity of the pocket may for example be exclusively along one edge of the pocket bag or it may cut across part of two edges of the pocket bag. Configurations of the opening for access to pocket bags are well known to persons of ordinary skill in that art.

Each piece of material that forms the pocket bag has an inner surface (also referred to as an inner side) that when the bag is empty may abut the inner side of the other piece of material. These inner sides may be accessible to receive items inserted through the opening of the pocket bag. In other embodiments, there may be a stitching or other restricting means that causes less than 95%, less than 85%, less than 75%, less than 65%, less than 55%, less than 45%, less than 35%, less than 25%, or less than 15% of those inner sides to be accessible to the wearer of the pants.

In most articles of clothing that contain front pockets, there are typically at least two front pockets. There may, for example, be exactly two front pockets. There may also be two large front pockets and a third or even a fourth smaller front pocket associated with one (in the case of three front pockets) or each (in the case of four front pockets) of the larger pockets. These additional front pockets may be referred to as coin pockets. Additionally, there is no technological impediment to creating a pants garment with only one front pocket, but it is preferable to have at least two front pockets in order to obtain the maximal benefits of the present invention, as well as for aesthetic reasons. Similarly, there is no technological impediment to including additional cargo pockets down the sides of the legs.

For convenience, the pocket bag that is associated with the right pants leg may be referred to as the first pocket bag, and the pocket bag that is associated with the left pants leg may be referred to as the second pocket bag. At least a portion of each pocket bag spans from the respective outer seam to the fastening system.

In some embodiments each pocket bag is a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape. As noted above, the side of the first pocket bag that will be closest to the body of the wearer of the garment may be referred to as the rear side of the first pocket bag and the side of the first pocket bag that will be farthest from the body of the wearer of the garment may be referred to as the front side of the first pocket bag. The first pocket bag will also have a top side, which refers to the edge that is closest to the waistband, a right side, which is the edge that is closest to the outer seam, a left side, which is the edge that is closest to the fastening system and a bottom edge, which is the edge that is farthest from the waistband.

The pocket bags span from the outer seams to the fastening systems. The pocket bag is considered to span to the outer seam if at least a portion of pocket bags is sewn to or otherwise affixed directly to the outer seam or to the front panel of the respective legs within 1 cm, within 9 mm, within 8 mm, within 7 mm, within 6 mm, within 5 mm, within 4 mm, within 3 mm, within 2 mm, or within 1 mm of the outer seam. Similarly, the pocket bag is considered to span to the fastening system if it is directly sewn to or otherwise affixed to a fastening system or within 1 cm, within 9 mm, within 8 mm, within 7 mm, within 6 mm, within 5 mm, within 4 mm, within 3 mm, within 2 mm or within 1 mm of the fastening system. In some embodiments a distance of at least 1 cm, at least 2 cm, at least 3 cm, at least 4 cm, or at least 5 cm of the respective top edge of the pocket bag, if not the entire top edge of the pocket bag is associated with or affixed to the waistband.

In some embodiments, substantially all or all of the right side of the first pocket bag is affixed to the right outer seam. If a portion of the pocket opening is directed to the right outer seam, it is not possible for the entire right side of both pieces of material of the pocket bag to be affixed to the right outer seam. However, it is possible for the entire right side of the rear material in this area to extend to the right outer seam. Additionally, regardless of whether that portion of the pocket bag is affixed to the outer seam, in some embodiments, if all of the right side of the first pocket bag is not affixed to the right outer seam, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the right side of the first pocket bag is affixed to the right outer seam. When the rear piece of material is a different size than the front piece of material, then these percentages refer to the side of the rear piece of material.

As noted above, the first pocket bag is attached along at least a portion of a top side of the first pocket bag to the waistband. Preferably substantially all or all of the top side of the first pocket bag is affixed to the waistband. If a portion of the pocket opening is directed to the waistband, it is not possible for the entire top side of the pocket bag to be affixed to the waistband. However, it is possible for the top side of the rear material in this area to extend to the waist band. Additionally, regardless of whether that portion of the pocket bag is affixed to the waistband if all of the top side of the first pocket bag is not affixed to the right outer seam, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the top side of the first pocket bag is affixed to the waistband. For example, it may be attached along at least 2 cm, at least 3 cm, at least 4 cm, at least 5 cm, at least 6 cm, at least 7 cm, at least 8 cm, at least 9 cm, at least 10 cm, at least 11 cm, at least 12 cm, at least 13 cm, at least 14 cm, at least 15 cm, at least 16 cm, at least 17 cm, at least 18 cm, at least 19 cm, or at least 20 cm.

The first pocket bag may also be affixed along at least a portion of a left side of the first pocket bag to the fastening system. Preferably substantially all or all of the left side of the first pocket bag is affixed to the fastening system. If all of the left side of the first pocket bag is not affixed to the fastening system, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the left side of the first pocket bag is affixed to the fastening system.

It should be noted that by being affixed to the fastening system includes being directly sewn to or otherwise irreversibly associated with the material that secures a fastening element and that in turn is secured to the pants leg.

In some embodiments, the bottom edge or side of the first pocket bag is not affixed to any other material.

The second pocket bag may be designed according to similar parameters to which the first pocket bag is designed. Thus, in some embodiments, substantially all or all of the left side of the second pocket bag is affixed to the left outer seam. If a portion of the pocket opening is directed to the left outer seam, it is not possible for the entire left side of both pieces of material of the pocket bag to be affixed to the left outer seam. However, it is possible for the left side of the rear material in this area to extend to the left outer seam. Additionally, regardless of whether that portion of the pocket bag is affixed to the outer seam, in some embodiments, if all of the left side of the second pocket bag is not affixed to the left outer seam, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the left side of the second pocket bag is affixed to the left outer seam. When the rear piece of material is a different size than the front piece of material, then these percentages refer to the sides of the rear piece of material.

The second pocket bag is attached along at least a portion of a top side of the second pocket bag to the waistband. Preferably, substantially all or all of the top side of the second pocket bag is affixed to the waistband. If a portion of the pocket opening is directed to the waistband, it is not possible for the entire top side of the pocket bag to be affixed to the waistband. However, it is possible for the top side of the rear material in this area to extend to the waist band. Additionally, regardless of whether that portion of the pocket bag is affixed to the waistband, if all of the top side of the second pocket bag is not affixed to the left outer seam, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the top side of the second pocket bag is affixed to the waistband. For example, it may be attached along at least 2 cm, at least 3 cm, at least 4 cm, at least 5 cm, at least 6 cm, at least 7 cm, at least 8 cm, at least 9 cm, at least 10 cm, at least 11 cm, at least 12 cm, at least 13 cm, at least 14 cm, at least 15 cm, at least 16 cm, at least 17 cm, at least 18 cm, at least 19 cm, or at least 20 cm.

The second pocket bag may also be affixed along at least a portion of a right side of the second pocket bag to the fastening system. Preferably substantially all or all of the right side of the second pocket bag is affixed to the fastening system. If all of the right side of the second pocket bag is not affixed to the fastening system, then preferably at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of the right side of the second pocket bag is affixed to the fastening system.

It should be noted that reference to being “affixed to the fastening system” includes being directly sewn to or otherwise irreversibly associated with the material that secures a fastening element and that in turn is secured to the pants leg.

In some embodiments, the bottom of the second pocket bag is not affixed to any other material.

When there is more than one row of stitching that forms a seam, the plurality of rows may collectively be referred to as a seam. The references above to the attachments to a seam or in the proximity of a seam may be in reference to the area bounded by the rows of stitching. Thus, by way of example, a pocket bag is affixed to a seam if it is directly affixed to a row of stitching that forms a seam or to an area of the pants material located between two rows of stitching. Similarly, a pocket bag that is 1 mm from a seam is 1 mm from the closest relevant line of stitching, but not between two rows of stitching.

For simplicity, the above description is provided in the context of a rectangular or substantially rectangular shaped pocket bag. However, the pocket bag may for example be of other shapes. For example, in some embodiments the sides that are affixed to the waistband, to the fastening system and to the outer seam of the applicable leg piece may be straight, while the bottom side is irregular or curved. Further, it may be that only a portion of the side that is associated with the fastening system is straight.

Additionally, when the pocket bag is affixed to or associated with the outer seam, the fastening element and the waistband, the affixing or association may for example be caused by one or more parallel or substantially parallel rows of stitching. Moreover, although for convenience reference is made above to affixing the right side, top side and left side of the pocket bags to the seams, waistband and fastening system, as a matter a practicality, the actual attachment may be in the vicinity of those sides or edges and for example, stitching may be between the respective edges of pocket bags and within 5 mm, within 4 mm, within 3 mm, within 2 mm, or within 1 mm from the those edges (i.e., from where the front and/or rear sides of the a piece of material that forms the pocket bag such as the rear piece, meets the right side, top side and left side).

As noted above, the pocket bags may be made of a material is stretchable or elastic. It is important to note that most materials that are used in clothing have some degree of stretchability. However, unless otherwise specified, the pocket bags of the present invention has an elasticity that enable them to be stretched from about 5% to about 30% or from about 10% to about 25% or from about 10% to about 20% or from about 15% to about 20% along the dimension that spans from the respective outer seam to the fastening system. In some embodiments the elastic panels and the pocket bag have the aforementioned elasticity properties and the elastic panels and the pocket bags have either the same or different degrees of elasticity. In some embodiments, the elastic panels have the aforementioned elasticity properties, but the pockets bags are not elastic. In some embodiments, both the pocket bags and the elastic panels have a degree of elasticity but the elastic panels have a greater degree of elasticity. In some embodiments, both the pocket bags and the elastic panels have a degree of elasticity but the elastic panels have a smaller degree of elasticity.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the pocket bags and/or elastic panels are comprised of two-way stretch material, meaning that they stretch only along their widths (i.e., from the outer seam to the fastening system). In other embodiments the pocket bags and/or elastic panels are comprised of elastic materials that may stretch in both height directions (i.e. from the waist band to the bottom edge) and in both width directions and thus are know as four-way stretch materials.

When the pocket bags of the present invention are in use, because they span from the outer seam to the fastening system, when the pants are closed, a user's lower torso area may be compressed in and up. From the wearer's perspective, in some embodiments, she will see herself as appearing about ½ of a size to about 2 sizes smaller. In some embodiments, she will appear about one size smaller. The aforementioned size changes are in reference to the standard U.S. pants sizing system for women. In some embodiments, the wearer of the pants will appear from about ¾ of an inch to about 2 inches smaller around her pelvic or lower torso area, which corresponds to the area around a person's high hip and lower hip area, which is below a person's waist. In some embodiments, the wearer will appear from about 1 inch to about 1 and ½ inches smaller in this area.

When the pocket bags are comprised of elastic, in some embodiments, both pieces of material that form each pocket bag is comprised of elastic. In some embodiments, only the rear pieces of material (i.e., the ones closest to the wearer's body) that form each pocket bag are elastic. In some embodiments, only the front pieces of material (i.e., the ones farthest from the wearer's body) that form each pocket bag are elastic.

In some embodiments, the article of clothing also comprises a first elastic panel that spans from the right outer seam to the fastening system and at least a portion of a top side of the first elastic panel is associated with the waistband, and the second elastic panel spans from the left outer seam to the fastening system and at least a portion of a top side of the second elastic panel is associated with the waistband. The elastic panels may for example each be formed from a single piece of material and do not form a pocket.

In some embodiments, each elastic panel is located between the respective pocket bag and the wearer of the pants. By placing the elastic panel in this location, the contents of the pocket will not be compressed against the wearer's body by the elastic panel. As with the pocket bags described above, the right side of the first elastic panel may be affixed to or associated with the right outer seam of the garment, the left side of the first elastic panel may be affixed to or associated with the fastening system, the upper side of the first elastic panel may be affixed to or associated with the waistband and the lower side of the elastic panel may be unassociated with other material, or it may be associated with (or affixed to) the lower edge of the pocket bag but not any portion of the pant leg.

The elastic panel may be the same width or approximately the same width (from left to right) as the pocket bag, while either being the same height or approximately the height (from top to bottom side) as the pocket bag or larger than the pocket bag in that dimension or smaller than the pocket bag in that dimension. The phrase “approximately the size” means within five millimeters.

When the pocket bag is comprised of two pieces of material that are of different sizes, the elastic panel may in some embodiments be larger than both of them or the same size as the larger of the two. In some embodiments, the elastic panel may be smaller than both pieces of material that form the pocket bag. In some embodiments, the elastic panel may be smaller than one piece of material that forms the pocket bag, but larger than the other piece of material that forms the pocket bag. When there are both elastic panels and pocket bags that span from the outer seam to the fastening system, in some embodiments, the force of the elastic panels on the user's body is what imparts that majority of the desired silhouette to the wearer of the garment. Additionally, when both the elastic panels and pocket bags are present, in some embodiments only the elastic bag is comprised of an elastic material, while in other embodiments, both the pocket bags and the elastic panels are comprised of elastic materials.

In some embodiments, the first elastic panel comprises a front face that has an area that is 1-10% or 10-20% or 20-30% or 30-40% larger than a rear face of the first pocket bag and the second elastic panel comprises a front face that has an area that is 1-10% or 10-20% or 20-30% or 30-40 larger than a rear face of the second pocket bag.

In some embodiments, the entire right, top and left edges of the first elastic panel are associated with or affixed to the right outer seam, the waistband and the first fastening element, respectively. In other embodiments, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of one or more of these sides or edges of the elastic panel is associated with the outer seam, waistband, and fastening elements. Further, the percentage of each edge of the elastic panel that is associated with the pants seam, fastening element and waistband may be different e.g., at least 70% of the right edge, at least 80% of the left edge and at least 100% of the top edge.

In some embodiments, the entire left, top and right edges of the second elastic panel are associated with or affixed to the left outer seam, the waistband and the second fastening element, respectively. In other embodiments, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90% or at least 95% of one or more of these sides or edges of the elastic panel is associated with the outer seam, waistband, and fastening elements respectively. Further, the percentage of each edge of the elastic panel that is associated with the pants seam, fastening elements and waistband may be different e.g., at least 70% of the left edge, at least 80% of the right edge and at least 100% of the top edge.

Exemplary dimensions of the pocket bags include but are not limited to the dimensions provided below in Table I. When the pocket bag is formed from two pieces of material of unequal sizes, the dimensions refer to the size of the large panel. When the material is an irregular shape, the dimension refers to the largest width and height.

TABLE I Exemplary Pocket Bag Dimensions Woman's pants size (U.S. sizing system) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Pocket 7″-9″ 7¼″-9¼″ 7½″-9½″ 7¾″-9¾″  8″-10″ 8¼″-10¼″ 8⅝″-10⅝″ 9″-11″ 9⅜″-11⅜″ bag width Pocket 3½″-6½″ 3½″-6½″ 3½″-6½″ 4″-7″ 4″-7″ 4″-7″ 4½″-7½″ 4½″-7½″ 4½″-7½″ bag height

A person of ordinary skill will appreciate that the precise dimension will in part be determined on how tight or loose the low-hip measurement is in the resting state, and the type of fit of the pocket bag that is to be made, e.g., triangular, circular or linear.

Exemplary dimensions of the elastic panels may be for example, the same as those for pocket bags. In some embodiments, they will be between ¼ of an inch and 1 inch larger in the height dimension. In some embodiments, they will be between ¼ of an inch and 1 inch smaller in the height dimension.

In some embodiments, the present invention further comprises an elastic yoke. The yoke of a pair of pants refers to the part of the pants below the waistband on the rear left and rear right side of the pants. Thus, in these embodiments, the waistband is affixed to the yoke and not the rear pants panels. Each of the right yoke piece and the left yoke piece may be formed of the same or different materials as the front elastic panels. The yoke pieces are preferably affixed to the right and the left rear pants legs along the perimeters of each of the left and right yoke. In some embodiments, the elastic yoke pieces appear exclusively between the wearer's body and the rear of the pants garment. In other embodiments, the elastic yoke pieces replace the yoke that would otherwise appear is the pants garment. Accordingly, the size of the yoke may be determined by the size of the pants.

In embodiments in which there is an elastic yoke, the combination of the elastic yoke and the pocket bags described above or pocket bags in combination with the elastic panels, provides further redistribution of the wearer's torso region.

In some embodiments, the pocket bags and/or the elastic panels contain reinforcement stitching. Reinforcement stitching is one or more series of stitchings that impart additional resilience to the pocket bags or elastic panels and both protects against loss of elastic properties, as well as increases compression force on the wearer of the garment. By way of example, there may be one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, etc. rows of stitching that are regularly or irregularly spaced along horizontal or substantially horizontal lines of the pocket bags and/or elastic panels. Additionally or alternatively, there may be one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, etc. rows of stitching that are regularly or irregularly spaced along vertical or substantially vertical lines of the pocket bags and/or elastic panels. In some embodiments stitching appears only on the elastic panels. In some embodiments there is reinforcement stitching that not only reinforces, but also affixes the elastic panel to the pocket bag. In some embodiments there is separate reinforcement for the elastic panel and the pocket bag.

Exemplary materials for reinforcement stitching include but are not limited to various threads. As persons of ordinary skill in the art are aware, thread is typically measured by text weight. In some embodiments, the thread used for reinforced stitching may have a text weight between 40 and 250 or between 60 and 200 or between 80 and 150 or between 100 and 125. By way of example, the stitching material may be made of cotton or a cotton/polyester blend.

When the stitching is across the pocket bag, it is important not to stitch together the region of the two pieces of material that form the pocket cavity that one intends to have permissible for access. Thus, one may stitch a region that in effect causes the accessible part of the pocket cavity to be smaller than the potential volume that is formed by the two sides of the material and/or one may stitch only one side of the pocket cavity, e.g., the side closest to the wearer, or stitch both sides. If the cavity is restricted, for convenience of reference, even the inaccessible portion of the pocket bag is still considered to be part of the pocket bag.

Additionally, one could use horizontal and/or vertical and/or diagonal stitching that attaches the rear panel of the pocket bag to the elastic panel, or both panels of the pocket bag to the elastic panel.

Thus, in some embodiments, the article of clothing comprises reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of the first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of the second elastic panel. The reinforcement stitching may for example, comprise at least two lines of stitching along said horizontal line of said first elastic panel and along said second elastic panel. The phrase “substantially horizontal” means parallel to the horizontal plane when the pants are worn or within 10 degrees of the horizontal plane. In some embodiments there may be stitching that is oriented on a diagonal that is between 10 and 80 degrees or between 20 and 70 degrees or between 30 and 60 degrees or between 40 and 50 degrees of the horizontal plane.

With respect to the types of stitching that may be useful in connection with the reinforcement stitching. At the webpage, www.amefird.com/stitchingtypematrixflyer2.pdf, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if set forth herein, American & Efird, Inc. identify the following types of stitching, which may be used for reinforcement stitching, alone or in combination: (i) single thread chainstitch; (ii) single thread chainstitch or lockstitch buttonsew, buttonhole or bartack; (iii) single threadblind stitch; (iv) lockstitch; (v) zig zag lockstitch; (vi) chainstitch; (vii) zig zag chainstitch; (viii) 2 needle cover stitch; (ix) 3 needle cover stitch; (x) 2 needle chainstitch with cover thread; (xi) 2 thread overedge; (xii) 3 thread overedge; (xiii) mock safety stitch; (xiv) 2 needle 4 thread overedge; (xv) 4 thread safetystitch; (xvi) 5 thread safetystitch; (xvii) 2 needle 4 thread coverstitch; (xviii) 3 needle 5 thread coverstitch; and (xix) 4 needle 6 thread coverstitch.

The present invention may be further appreciated by reference to the attached figures. FIG. 1 is a representation of a woman 1 wearing a prior art pair of pants 2. In the pants, the woman's lower torso 3 protrudes to degree that is undesirable to her.

In FIG. 2, the same woman 4 is shown. However, she is wearing an article of clothing 5 pursuant to the present invention. As is shown, her stomach 6 lower torso region appears smaller and tighter.

FIG. 3 is a representation of the upper portion of the front left leg panel of a pair of pants 7. The waistband 8 is along the top of the pants. A pocket bag is accessible by a wearer of the pants but is not shown because its view is blocked by the elastic panel 10. One edge (the left side) of the pocket bag is affixed to the left outer seam of the pants 29. Along a portion of the top edge of the pocket bag 30 the pocket bag is affixed to the waistband of the pants. The right edge of the pocket bag is affixed to the fastening system 31, which comprises zipper teeth 32. In this embodiment, the pocket bag and elastic panel, by virtue of stretching from the outer seam to the fastening system and being affixed to both of them, will enable the garment to create a desired silhouette on a wearer. The lower edge 9 is not affixed to anything. Reinforced stitching is present in horizontal 11 and vertical 13 lines.

FIG. 4 is a representation of the upper portion of the front right leg panel of a pair of pants 14. There is again a waistband 15 and an outer seam there 34 at which the elastic panel and the pocket bag are attached. The pocket bag (not shown) is located behind the elastic panel 21. Additionally, the location of the attachment of the elastic panel to the fastening system is blocked by a cloth 33. Both horizontal 18 and vertical 17 reinforcement stitching are present. The elastic panel is attached to the waistband 20 at its upper edge, but not attached to the pants garment at its lower edge 16.

FIG. 5 is a representation of the upper rear portions of a garment of clothing 22 that includes right and left yoke pieces 23. The upper edges of the right and left yoke pieces are affixed to waistband 24 at stitching 26. These pieces of the yoke are also affixed to the outer seams of the pants 35, and the rear center seam of the pants 36. Further, they are attached at their lower edges to the right and left sides of the pants 27 (in the figure only the right lower edge is identified by numeral 27). Rear pockets 25 are shown for reference, as is the seam that attaches the right and left rear pants panels 28.

This patent application discusses specific embodiments of the present invention. The specific features described herein may be used in some embodiments, but not in others, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the foregoing disclosure. 

1. An article of clothing comprising: a. a right leg section, wherein said right leg section comprises a right outer seam; b. a left leg section, wherein said left leg section comprises a left outer seam; c. a waistband; d. a fastening system, wherein said fastening system is capable of reversibly associating a front upper end of the right leg section with a front upper end of the left leg section, and a first fastening element of the fastening system is located on the front upper end of the right leg section and a second fastening element of the fastening system is located on the front upper end of the left leg section; e. a first pocket bag, wherein the first pocket bag spans from the right outer seam to said first fastening element and is attached to the waistband; and f. a second pocket bag, wherein the second pocket bag spans from the left outer seam to the second fastening element and is attached to the waistband.
 2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the first pocket bag and the second pocket bag each comprise an elastic material.
 3. The article of clothing of claim 1 further comprising a first elastic panel and a second elastic panel, wherein the first elastic panel spans from the right outer seam to the first fastening element, and the second elastic panel spans from the left outer seam, to the second fastening element.
 4. The article of clothing of claim 3, wherein the first pocket bag forms a cavity that is accessible by a wearer of the article of clothing and the second pocket bag forms a cavity that is accessible by said wearer of the article of clothing.
 5. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the first elastic panel comprises a front face that has an area that is larger than a rear face of the first pocket bag and the second elastic panel comprises a front face that has an area that is larger than a rear face of the second pocket bag.
 6. The article of clothing of claim 4 further comprising an elastic yoke.
 7. The article of clothing of claim 4 further comprising reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said second elastic panel.
 8. The article of clothing of claim 7, wherein the reinforcement stitching comprises at least two lines of stitching along said substantially horizontal line of said first elastic panel and at least two lines of stitching along said substantially horizontal line of said second elastic panel.
 9. The article of clothing of claim 5, wherein said front face of the first elastic panel comprises has an area that is 10-30% larger than said rear face of the first pocket bag and the front face of the second elastic panel has an area that is 10-30% larger than said rear face of the second pocket bag.
 10. The article of clothing of claim 3, wherein the front face of the first elastic panel has an area that is approximately the same size as the rear face of the first pocket bag and the front face of the second elastic panel has an area that is approximately the same size as the rear face of the second pocket bag.
 11. The article of clothing of claim 3, wherein the first pocket bag and the second pocket bag are each comprised of an elastic material.
 12. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the first pocket bag and the second pocket bag are further comprised of cotton.
 13. The article of clothing of claim 11, wherein the first elastic panel and the second elastic panel are further comprised of denim.
 14. The article of clothing of claim 11 further comprising an elastic yoke.
 15. The article of clothing of claim 14 further comprising reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said first elastic panel and reinforcement stitching along a substantially horizontal line of said second elastic panel.
 16. The article of clothing of claim 15, wherein the reinforcement stitching comprises at least two lines of stitching along said horizontal line of said first elastic panel and at least two lines of stitching along said horizontal line of said second elastic panel.
 17. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the fastening system comprises at least one button and hole.
 18. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the fastening system comprises a zipper. 